Gaming, sports, tech clubs, and more! With Communities in Microsoft Teams (free), you can create communities based on your interests and connect with others who share your passion. Learn how to become part of the Featured Community Program for a chance to have your community promoted on the Teams (free) homepage so that other users can discover your community easily!
Step 1: How to make your community a good candidate for the featured community program
While there are different groups on Communities in Teams, the Feature Communities Program focuses on topic-related groups. The Featured Community Program can help boost a community's visibility and provides an opportunity for people to see it in their recommendations on Explore Communities in Microsoft Teams (free). Now, that’s a way to expand membership!
Make sure to review and check your community for the following items before submitting your application.
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Here are some suggested topics you might consider for your community. Sports, volunteering, gaming, professional/learning, arts and cultures, hobbies, lifestyle, animals, meme/fun stuff, anime, and support groups.
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Fill out your community details. Check your community's name, avatar, description, and guidelines. Make sure the name is appropriate and your avatar is relevant and unique. Also, make sure that you provide a community description that conveys what your community is about. Setting guidelines is a good way to convey do's and don'ts to current and potential members.
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Make your community Public. To appear in Search and Recommendations, and qualify as a Featured Community, a community must be Public.
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Keep your community open . Turn off Request approval to join to open your community to potential members.
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Customize your community. Add a unique banner and create channels to engage community members.
We are also looking for communities with an active member base, however small, and community owners who take steps to keep their community engaged.
Step 2: Get your community featured
If you would like a chance to participate in the featured community program, there are several ways to submit your application.
You can apply to be featured with an existing community or create a new one.
Note: The changes to your community during the submission process will show after you complete the application.
To submit an application for an existing community, you must be the owner.
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In Teams, tap Home in the lower-left side of the screen.
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Go to the community you would like to get featured, then tap the community name at the upper-left corner.
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Tap Feature your community and fill out the details for your community.
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Tap Next to submit changes or tap the arrow at the upper-left side of the screen to exit without submitting any changes.
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Enter a brief description of why you want to have your community featured, then tap Submit.
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After you see the message in Teams, tap Feature your community.
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The next step depends on whether you're a multiple or a single community owner.
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If you have multiple communities, tap the community you want to feature, then fill out or update the community details.
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If you have a single community, fill out or update the details for your community.
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Tap Next to submit changes or tap the arrow at the upper-left side of the screen to exit without submitting any changes.
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Enter a brief description of why you want to have your community featured, then tap Submit.
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In Teams, tap Home on the lower-right side of the screen.
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Go to Explore Communities > See more.
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After Explore Communities opens, tap Get your community featured.
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The next step depends on whether you're a multiple or a single community owner.
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If you have multiple communities, tap the community you want to feature, then fill out or update the community details.
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If you have a single community, fill out or update the details for your community.
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Tap Next to submit changes or tap the arrow at the upper-left side of the screen to exit without submitting any changes.
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Enter a brief description of why you want to have your community featured, then tap Submit.
You can create a new community and submit an application to participate in the featured community program.
To start your community, use a template and then apply to have it featured. You can apply using community settings.
You can apply to be featured with an existing community or create a new one.
Note: The changes to your community during the submission process will show after you complete the application.
To submit an application for an existing community, you must be the owner.
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In Teams, select Community from the leftmost side of the screen.
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Go to the community you would like to get featured, then select More options across the community name.
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Select Feature your community and fill out or update the details for your community.
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Select Next to submit changes or select the “X” at the upper-right side to exit without submitting any changes.
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Enter a brief description of why you want to have your community featured, then select Submit.
If you’re a community owner with one or more communities, you might receive a notification where you can apply to get your community featured.
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After you see the message in Teams, select Feature your community.
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The next step depends on whether you're a multiple or a single community owner.
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If you have multiple communities, select the community you want to feature, then fill out or update the community details.
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If you have a single community, fill out or update the details for your community.
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Select Next to submit changes or select the “X” at the upper-left side of the screen to exit without submitting any changes.
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Enter a brief description of why you want to have your community featured, then select Submit.
You can create a new community and submit an application to participate in the featured community program.
To start your community, use a template and then apply to have it featured. You can apply using community settings.
Step 3: Check your application status and keep your community eligible
Quality is a top priority, and we're continuously improving Communities in Teams. The Featured Community Program team reviews new and existing communities that meet eligibility guidelines. Owners will receive notifications through the Teams' activity feed when their communities are featured.
After you join the featured community program, continue the good work and keep your community eligible.
Remember:
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Your community needs your attention and care. A friendly reminder to keep an eye on your community and get rid of any spam.
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Foster a positive and engaging atmosphere. Share fun, relevant, and insightful content with each team members regularly.
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Inappropriate behavior or content isn't tolerated. If you experience any, act accordingly (for example, warn or remove the member).
You can choose to have your community unfeatured at any time.
Notes:
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Microsoft reserves the right to accept or decline any application at its own discretion.
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Acceptance to the featured community program increases chances, but doesn't guarantee increased visibility or increased membership.
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Acceptance into the Featured Community Program doesn't guarantee a community will be promoted on the Teams homepage.
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Microsoft reserves the right to un-feature any community if it doesn't meet the internal requirements.
Step 4: Frequently asked questions
The Featured Community Program's focus is to help community owners find other users who might be interested in joining their community. The program can boost the community's visibility and provides an opportunity for people to see it in their recommendations on Explore Communities in Teams (free) homepage.
The Featured Community Program is available to all new and existing communities that meet eligibility requirements.
Microsoft reserves the right to accept or decline any application at its own discretion. Acceptance to the featured community program increases chances, but doesn't guarantee increased visibility or increased membership.
To get your community featured, follow these steps:
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Check to see if your community meets eligibility requirements. If you're not a community owner, don't worry, you can create a community during the application process.
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Submit an application for an existing or new community. You can apply on either your mobile device or desktop.
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Check your application status and keep your community eligible.
If your community matches, the team might reach out to you and see how to best partner to ensure the success of your community.
You can submit a request to get your community unfeatured at any time. Your changes will appear within 24 hours.
Mobile
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In Teams, tap Home on the lower-right of the screen.
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Go to the community you'd like to get unfeatured, then tap the community name in the upper-left corner.
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Tap Remove from featured .
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After your request is sent, tap OK.
Desktop
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In Teams, select Community from the leftmost side of the screen.
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Go to the community you'd like to get unfeatured, then select More options across the community name > Remove from featured.
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Select Remove to submit changes or Cancel to exit without submitting any changes.
Contact us
For more help, contact support or ask a question in the Microsoft Teams Community.